Section 4: Right to get opportunity of hearing on complaint within the stipulated time limit.

(1) The Public Hearing Officer shall provide an opportunity of hearing on a complaint filed under this Act within the stipulated time limit. (2) The Public Hearing Officer may seek the assistance of any other officer or employee as he considers it necessary for the proper discharge of his duties under sub-section (1). (3) Any officer or employee, whose assistance has been sought under subsection (2), shall render all assistance to the Public Hearing Officer seeking his assistance and for the purposes of any contravention of the provisions of this Act, such other officer or employee, as the case may be, shall be treated a Public Hearing Officer. (4) The stipulated time limit shall start from the date when a complaint is filed to the Public Hearing Officer or to a person authorized by him to receive the complaints. Receipt of a complaint shall be duly acknowledged. (5) The Public Hearing Officer on receipt of a complaint under sub-section (1) shall, within the stipulated time limit, provide an opportunity of hearing to the complainant and after hearing the complainant, decide the complaint either by accepting it or by referring it to an authority competent to grant the benefit or relief sought for or by suggesting an alternative benefit or relief available under any other law, policy, order, programme or scheme or by rejecting it for the reasons to be recorded in writing and shall communicate his decision on the complaint to the complainant within the stipulated time limit.